First responders talk about Kilroy's rescue

St. Louis (KSDK)--Emergency responders played critical roles during Saturday's crisis at Kilroy's.

One hundred people were treated for injuries, with a handful needing to be transported to the hospital.

NewsChannel 5 also learned there were also firefighters dealing with their own crisis, thanks to severe weather.

It was over before it began. One minute, Cardinals fans were enjoying a good time under an outdoor tent at Kilroy's Saturday-- and the next, they were on the ground, in need of medical attention.

"Nobody could really identify what they were stuck with," said David Hickle, a paramedic with Abbott Ambulance, one of the seven agencies St. Louis Firefighters called on for back-up.

Hickle is one of dozens of emergency responders called to the scene to help treat the 100 patients in need of medical attention.

"A little overwhelming. At least for coming into something and not exactly knowing what we're coming into, but I would describe it as well organized," said Hickle.

NewsChannel 5 was there Saturday as Hickle and his crew, loaded- up his first patient-- a woman with broken ribs and a punctured lung.

"Then they brought me a second patient while we were preparing to transport her, who ended up having a head injury," said Hickle.

Hickle described the scene as critical, but well organized.

Meanwhile, Firefighters in Maryland Heights were also in crisis mode, as Mother Nature pounded their vehicles. Baseball- sized hail left ambulances with cracked windshields... fire trucks with dings... and vehicles with broken bar lights. A total of five vehicles were damaged, while firefighters continued to answer calls for help.

"Rain or shine, or hail, we are always responding on the calls," said Captain Robert Daus, Public Information Officer with the Maryland Heights Fire Protection District.

The department has a number of back-up vehicles that will be put in use, while the damaged goods gets repaired.

As these emergency responders reflect on Saturday's work, they say it's all a part of the job.

"We're all trained to the same standard, so we all know what we're supposed to do," said Hickle.

NewsChannel 5 did reach out to St. Louis firefighters, but they weren't available to participate in our story.

St. Louis firefighters estimate 50 emergency responders helped out with the crisis at Kilroy's Saturday.